Santee · Building on your lot

Building on your lot in Santee

Santee sets its own limits on fences, accessory structures and home businesses. A lot without a garage may add a 400-square-foot detached garage in all cases.

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Key points

Fence height: Front-yard fences are limited to 3½ feet, or 6 feet if the top part is 90% open; side and rear yards, 6 feet.
Accessory structures: Accessory structures in side or rear yards: at most 16 feet, 1 story; detached ones total at most 50% of the home's living area.
Home businesses: A home business may host 1 customer per 2-hour period, only residents may work there, and it needs Director approval and a business license.

Each rule below is marked Santee code or CA state law and links to the section it comes from (checked October 2026). General information, not legal advice.

Fences and walls

Santee code What Santee's code adds
Corner visibility	Nothing over 3.5 feet high. Applies: Visibility clearance area on lots next to an alley, driveway or street. § 13.10.050 · code text A visibility clearance area shall be required on lots adjacent to an alley, driveway or street in which nothing shall be erected, placed, planted or allowed to grow exceeding three and one-half feet in height.
Front yard height	No higher than 3.5 feet. Applies: Front yard fences, walls, hedges or plants that block views and safe entry or exit for vehicles or pedestrians. § 13.10.050 · code text Fences, walls, hedges, or similar view obstructing structures or plant growth that reduce visibility and the safe ingress and egress of vehicles or pedestrians shall not exceed a height of three and one-half feet in the front yard. Up to 6 feet, solid and open fence combined. Applies: Required front yard or visibility clearance area; the top 2.5 feet must be at least 90% open and see-through. § 13.10.050 · code text A combination of solid and open fences (e.g., wrought iron, chain link, Plexiglas) not exceeding six feet in height may be located in a required front yard or visibility clearance area, provided such fences are constructed with at least 90% of the top two and one-half feet of their vertical surface open, and nonview-obscuring.
Side and rear yard height	Fences or walls up to 6 feet. Applies: Required exterior side yard, rear yard or interior side yard. § 13.10.050 · code text Fences or walls, not exceeding six feet in height, may be located in a required exterior side yard, rear, or interior side yard. Up to 8 feet. Applies: Noise walls required by the city, in the exterior side yard setback or rear setback next to a street. § 13.10.050 · code text Walls required by the City for noise mitigation may be up to eight feet in height and may be located within the exterior side yard setback or rear setback adjacent to a street.

Sheds, garages and other accessory structures

Santee code What Santee's code adds
Maximum height	No more than 16 feet and 1 story. Applies: Attached or detached accessory structures that extend into a required interior side or rear yard. § 13.10.050 · code text The maximum height for accessory structures is 16 feet (one story). No more than 16 feet or the roofline of the single-story home, whichever is lower. Applies: Structures in the front yard or exterior side yards. § 13.10.050 · code text The maximum height shall not exceed 16 feet or the roofline of the single-story residence, whichever is lower.
Size or lot coverage	No more than 50% of the main home's living area. Applies: All detached accessory structures with an existing single-family home combined. § 13.10.050 · code text The maximum allowable gross floor area for all detached residential accessory structures in conjunction with an existing single-family residence shall not exceed 50% of the living area of the primary residence. A 400-square-foot detached garage is always allowed. Applies: If there is no garage on the site now. § 13.10.050 · code text A 400-square-foot detached garage is permitted in all cases if a garage does not currently exist on site. No more than 170 square feet each. Applies: Structures in the front yard or exterior side yards. § 13.10.050 · code text The maximum allowable gross floor area shall not exceed 170 square feet for each structure.
Side and rear setback	At least 5 feet from the rear property line. Applies: Attached or detached accessory structures; eave overhang not counted. § 13.10.050 · code text Attached or detached residential accessory structures or additions may be located five feet from the rear property line, excluding eave overhang. At least 5 feet from the interior side property line. Applies: Attached or detached accessory structures; eave overhang not counted. § 13.10.050 · code text Attached or detached residential accessory structures may be located five feet from the side interior property line, excluding eave overhang. At least 5 feet from the exterior and interior side property lines. Applies: All front yard accessory structures. § 13.10.050 · code text All front yard accessory structures shall provide a minimum five-foot setback from the exterior and interior side property lines.

Running a business from home

Santee code What Santee's code adds
Customer visits	No more than 1 customer in any 2-hour period. Applies: Customers hosted on the property. § 13.06.060 · code text Home occupations shall not host customers on the premises more frequently than one customer within a two-hour time period.
Employees	Only residents of the home may work in the business. § 13.06.060 · code text No persons, other than residents of the dwelling unit, shall be engaged in such activity.
Permit	A current city business license is required. Applies: The home occupation is not valid without it. § 13.06.060 · code text A home occupation is not valid until a current City business license is obtained. Director approval is required; the Director may add conditions or deny. Applies: Home occupation requests. § 13.06.060 · code text The Director is authorized to approve, impose reasonable conditions upon such approval, or deny such requests.
Businesses not allowed	automotive repair and/or engine rebuilding; upholstering; machine or welding shop; other similar commercial uses that are not compatible with residential uses as determined by the Director of Development Services § 13.06.060 · code text 1. Automotive repair and/or engine rebuilding; 2. Upholstering; 3. Machine or welding shop; 4. Other similar commercial uses that are not compatible with residential uses as determined by the Director of Development Services.

Lot splits under SB 9

Santee code What Santee's code adds
How the lot may be divided	Each new lot must be between 40% and 60% of the original lot area. Applies: Applies to each resulting lot. § 12.21.050 · code text Each of the resulting lots must be between 40% and 60% of the original lot area.
Minimum new lot size	Each new lot must be at least 1,200 square feet. Applies: Applies to each resulting lot. § 12.21.050 · code text The resulting lots must each be at least 1,200 square feet.
Standards	The lot to be split must be at least 2,400 square feet. § 12.21.050 · code text The lot to be split must be at least 2,400 square feet. No more than 2 dwelling units of any kind on a resulting lot. Applies: Applies to each lot created by an urban lot split. § 12.21.050 · code text No more than two dwelling units of any kind may be built on a lot that results from an urban lot split. No more than 1 story or 16 feet high, measured from grade to peak. Applies: Applies to a new primary dwelling unit on a lot created by an urban lot split. § 12.21.050 · code text On a resulting lot, no new primary dwelling unit may exceed a single story or 16 feet in height, measured from grade to peak of the structure. No rooftop deck. Applies: Applies to any new or remodeled dwelling or structure on a lot created by an urban lot split. § 12.21.050 · code text No rooftop deck is permitted on any new or remodeled dwelling or structure on a lot resulting from an urban lot split. At most 25% lot coverage. Applies: Applies in the HL zone. § 12.21.050 · code text 2. Maximum Lot Coverage \| 25% \| 30% \| 35% \| 40% At most 30% lot coverage. Applies: Applies in the R-1 zone. § 12.21.050 · code text 2. Maximum Lot Coverage \| 25% \| 30% \| 35% \| 40% At most 35% lot coverage. Applies: Applies in the R-1A zone. § 12.21.050 · code text 2. Maximum Lot Coverage \| 25% \| 30% \| 35% \| 40% At most 40% lot coverage. Applies: Applies in the R-2 zone. § 12.21.050 · code text 2. Maximum Lot Coverage \| 25% \| 30% \| 35% \| 40% At least 20 feet of frontage, and at least 150 feet in length. Applies: Each new lot on the public right-of-way, unless the Fire Department approves otherwise. § 12.21.050 · code text Each resulting lot must have frontage on the public right-of-way of at least 20 feet and a minimum of 150 feet in length unless otherwise approved by the Fire Department. At least 50% landscaped with drought-tolerant plants. Applies: Applies to required setback areas. § 12.21.050 · code text Be at least 50% landscaped with drought-tolerant plants, with vegetation and irrigation plans approved by a licensed landscape architect;
Setbacks	At least 4 feet from side and rear property lines. Applies: Zone setbacks yield as needed to allow 2 units of at least 800 square feet each. § 12.21.050 · code text 800 Square Feet; Four-Foot Side and Rear. The setbacks imposed by the underlying zone must yield to the degree necessary to avoid physically precluding the construction of up to

Solar panels and EV chargers

Santee code What Santee's code adds
EV charger permit	Administrative, nondiscretionary review. The permit can be issued when the application meets all checklist requirements. § 11.50.060 · code text The application shall be administratively reviewed by the Building Official as a nondiscretionary permit. Electronic submittal is allowed. § 11.50.050 · code text The Building Official shall allow the electronic submittal of the electric vehicle charging station application. No permit for routine operation and maintenance or like-kind replacements. Applies: Applies to existing electric vehicle charging systems. § 11.50.030 · code text Routine operation and maintenance or like-kind replacements shall not require a permit.

Swimming pools

Santee code What Santee's code adds
Permit	No annual operating permit from the health officer is needed. Applies: Applies to a private pool kept by an individual for family and friends. § 11.32.030 · code text A pool is considered a private pool if it is maintained by an individual for the use of family and friends and for swimming instruction programs of short duration which are conducted by or sponsored by the American Red Cross.

Who this affects

HomeownersContractorsDesigners

Frequently asked questions

How tall can a fence be in Santee?

Front-yard fences are limited to 3½ feet, or 6 feet if the top part is 90% open; side and rear yards, 6 feet.

How big can a shed or accessory building be in Santee?

Accessory structures in side or rear yards: at most 16 feet, 1 story; detached ones total at most 50% of the home's living area.

Can I run a business from my home in Santee?

A home business may host 1 customer per 2-hour period, only residents may work there, and it needs Director approval and a business license.

Can I split my lot under SB 9 in Santee?

Santee's code: Each new lot must be between 40% and 60% of the original lot area. (Applies to each resulting lot.) (§ 12.21.050); Each new lot must be at least 1,200 square feet. (Applies to each resulting lot.) (§ 12.21.050).

Do I need a permit for solar panels or an EV charger in Santee?

Santee's code: Administrative, nondiscretionary review. The permit can be issued when the application meets all checklist requirements. (§ 11.50.060); Electronic submittal is allowed. (§ 11.50.050).

What are the pool fence and setback rules in Santee?

Santee's code: No annual operating permit from the health officer is needed. (Applies to a private pool kept by an individual for family and friends.) (§ 11.32.030).

General information, not legal advice.

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Santee Municipal Code — full text

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Buying & selling in Santee

Santee overview